Crimson Knights Continue Winning Ways Against TR South

The odds were heavily stacked in Wall’s favor coming into the game with the Toms River South Indians Friday night. Undefeated, on a roll and heating up just at the right time in the season, the Crimson Knights were looking to tighten up some loose ends in their play.

The Indians, heavy underdogs, have won only one game this year. And here they were in Wall stadium, against a team that has not lost since last season.

But someone forgot to tell TR South they weren’t supposed to make a game of it.

In the end, Wall was able to capitalize on mistakes made by the Indians’ offense and put some distance between the two teams, ending with a 54-35 win to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games. But TR South did not make it easy.

“I give them a lot of credit,’’ Crimson Knights head coach Chris Barnes said of the Indian’s team after the game. “They’ve really come a long way. They did a great job offensively.’’

Both teams sputtered on their first possession. But Wall chalked up the first seven points early in a raucous first quarter, driving from their own 42 in just four plays.

The Knights capitalized on an Indians fumble on the next possession and, putting up another seven points, leading with 5:15 left in the opening quarter 14-0.

TR South came roaring back on a 75-year run from #24, Zach Liguori from the Indian’s own 25-yard line, putting Toms River on the board 14-7.

Wall wasted no time coming back, however. Quarterback Steve Cluley scrambling 68 yard into the endzone. The extra point was lost on a bad snap, putting the Knights ahead 20-7.  And when the Indians fumbled on their next possession, Wall was able to put away another seven points, bringing the score to 27-7.

Toms River did not quit, driving six plays from their own 15-yard line, the Indians drove 85 yards to keep them in the game 27-14.

When Wall’s Cluley uncharacteristically fumbled and TR South recovered the ball, the Indians drove from their own 42-yard line to bring the game within seven points, 27-20.

It was as close as they would get.

Heading into halftime, Wall took just three plays to score, capped by a 35-yard run by Cluley to put the score at 33-21, after failing on a two-point conversion.

Wall’s #8 Jim Guiliano brought the Knights to 40-21 after a 60-yard run and the Indians looked iced.

But seven plays later the Indians scored again, driving 70-yards from their own 30 and it was 40-28 heading into the final frame.

After a scoreless possession by the Knights, Toms River came back again. A first down conversion on third and short gave the Indians life in the fourth, but a sack suddenly had Toms River looking at fourth down and a long twenty.

Out came the punting squad. But the Indians faked the kick, completed a pass and made the first down to the Knights’ 40-yard line.

A Wall fumble recovery was put in the end zone two plays later off a pass from Cluley to #4 Harry Paytas and it was 47-28.

Toms River’s night was sealed when Wall’s Jimmy Basciano intercepted an Indian’s pass and returned it 64-yards to the end zone, bringing Wall up an insurmountable 47-28 with just more than four minutes in the game.

That didn’t mean Toms River was done, driving down field to score the last points of the game with five seconds left on the clock. Final score 54-35.

“There is no way we could have anticipated that,’’ coach Barnes said of the number of points scored in the game.

The Knights improve to 7-0 on the season. And despite the some missteps with TR South, Barnes spoke glowingly of Cluley.

“I think we have the best quarterback in the Shore conference,’’ he said.